Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In undulating average pasture, located on a rise, with good views to E and SE over an expanse of lowlying, wettish land.
This possible rath is shown on the 1838 OS 6-inch map as a circular ringfort-like enclosure (diam. 25-30m), boxed in by field walls; it is depicted on later map editions as a mix of oblong and linear hachured features.
It has been greatly damaged, and it is difficult to trace its original form. A field wall, on an E–W axis, now bisects the location. To N of the wall, a barely discernible undulation outlines a semi-circular area (25m E–W; c. 12m N–S), possibly the N third of the enclosure. To S of the wall, a stone bank can be traced in a broad arc ESE–SW, which preserves the S arc of the enclosure. The stone bank is evident now as a sod-covered rise (Wth 2m at top, 2.3-3.7m overall), very low internally, with an almost vertical external scarp (H 0.5-0.7m) faced with large stones and boulders; this stone facing is probably the result of later modification/incorporation into a field wall. The stone bank enclosing a broadly semi-circular space (c. 27m E–W; 20.6m N–S to field wall at N), part of the original rath interior. The S portion of this space is traversed by E–W cultivation ridges, but to N of this, it has been largely quarried out (D 0.7m). Outside the stone bank the ground falls to S in a broad natural slope defined at its base by remnants of walling. There is another possible rath (MA038-118----) 140m to S.

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 13 August 2019